Rose gets vital match minutes

Versatile midfielder Andy Rose came through 90 minutes in City's Under-23s to edge closer to a first team come-back.

The 26-year-old has been sorely missed since limping off against Bury just four games into the start of the season with a medial knee ligament injury.

Rose has been back in full training for the last couple of weeks but made a big step back towards full fitness as he helped Nicky Eaden's development side to a 5-3 victory over Watford at The Alan Higgs Centre.

McBean stakes his claim

LA Galaxy loan striker Jack McBean scored his sixth goal of the season in the Under-23s, which must surely put him in contention for a first team call says Coventry Telegraph football writer Andy Turner.

The 21-year-old has helped the Under-23s to six consecutive wins since they were thumped 7-2 by Charlton Athletic at The Valley at the start of September and the American is desperate to take the step up to the senior team to prove himself.

Devon Kelly-Evans also scored his sixth goal of the season as the Sky Blues second string consolidated their position at the top of the Development League South.

Jack Finch, Callum Maycock and Kyle Spence were also on the scoresheet.

Venus's video nasty

Mark Venus has pored over the video nasty of Coventry City ’s defeat at Charlton Athletic as he prepares his players to right the wrongs against Oxford United at the Ricoh Arena.

But the Sky Blues interim boss has also pointed out the positives which he hopes his side will accentuate against the newly promoted U’s who travel to Coventry with former City loan star Chris Maguire in sparkling form.

“We have gone through the game and shown the players some of the good parts and some of the bad parts,” the 49-year-old told BBC Coventry and Warwickshire,

“If you look at the replay, which everyone has, there was lots of good play without enough goals at the end of it, really. We got into some good positions but didn’t finish it off. We hit the post, the keeper made a couple of good saves and at the other end we could have done better for a couple of their goals."

Asked about those fundamental defensive mistakes, he added: “I am not sure they are easy things to rectify after 12 games of the season. Tony will have been preaching that to them, I am sure, and basically they have to stop making those basic errors because if they don’t then this team is going to struggle to win games."

Page doubt for Oxford clash

Lewis Page has not been entirely ruled out for Tuesday night's Ricoh Arena clash with Oxford United but the on-loan West Ham United defender remains a doubt for the fixture.

The 20-year-old had to go off with a sore hamstring in the 23rd minute of Saturday's match against Charlton Athletic when he was replaced by veteran Sam Ricketts.

And although he did train on Monday morning the left-back is still 50-50 ahead of the midweek match.

There's positive news, however, on Jordan Willis, who also limped off at The Valley.

“Jordan had a bit of cramp,” said Venus. “He played in a different position and covered a bit more grass and ended up getting tired so we brought him off as a precaution and put on fresh legs. But he’ll be fit for selection."

Odemwingie hints at League One stint

Former West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie has revealed he might drop to League One in a bid to continue his career, sparking speculation that he might just land at City's door.

Odemwingie, a three-time winner of the Premier League player of the month award, has been a free agent since his release from Stoke this summer.

The Nigeria international has explained that he prepared to drop down another level at the age of 35 and might just fit the bill for the Sky Blues who are actively looking for an experienced and proven goal scorer.

Speaking to the Sun on Sunday, he said: “I will play my way, starting from scratch, to get back to whatever level that I can. I need a window to show what I can still do.

“I am not afraid to be on League One money; I’m just a big kid who misses football.

“I want to serve a purpose and show people you don’t have to give up, that I will absolutely 100 per cent go down a level – there is nothing to hide."

Odemwingie scored 31 goals in his 89 appearances for Albion between 2010 and 2013 but most fans haven't forgiven him for his deadline day antics in January 2013."